Impacting a robust Edmonds | Chamber Corner

Jan 29, 2018

Living in the charming beachfront town of Edmonds is a source of pride for most residents. Our town is regularly mentioned in the media as a great place to live and visit, like in Thrillist Travel’s “Best Small Towns in America” (bit.ly/2rnyT7F).

A vibrant community depends on a healthy economy and thriving businesses. And Edmonds businesses can depend on a robust chamber of commerce to support them.

For 111 years, the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce has been a part of this community’s fabric. From the 4th of July celebration to the tree lighting ceremony, the chamber plays a critical role in community building and drawing visitors to see what we offer.

Edmonds has shaken off the “Deadmonds” moniker and is now known throughout Puget Sound for our restaurants, arts and charm. We believe our businesses and community events are a large part of the recipe for this success.

A strong business community and engaged citizenry are key to growing a strong local economy.

Annually, the Edmonds Chamber gives back over $24,000 to local service clubs and nonprofits.

Organizations that receive funding from the chamber include, but are not limited to: Edmonds Boys & Girls Club ($6,000-plus), Edmonds-,Woodway High School senior class ($4,000), Kiwanis Club of Edmonds, Edmonds Lions Club and many others.

As an organization, the Edmonds chamber impacts our local economy through direct spending of over $400,000 annually. It takes a lot to produce our member and community events every year.

We are proud to say that 75 percent of our spending goes to local chamber member businesses for goods and services.

We also connect our members with information.

The Edmonds chamber facilitates meetings with the Senior Core of Retired Executives (SCORE) and Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Edmonds each month. We connect existing businesses and startups with these free federal resources and, with the help of the city, host these meetings at City Hall.

The chamber is represented on the city of Edmonds Economic Development Commission (EDC) and lends its voice to causes that benefit our community.

The chamber hosts workshops, trainings and seminars with guest speakers, and co-host events with organizations such as the Edmonds Downtown Alliance (ED!) and Sno-Isle Libraries.

As the saying goes: "So much in business is about who you know."

The relationships and business connections made through networking events serve to strengthen our community and ensure goods and services are purchased locally. The economic impact of our members doing business with each other is difficult to measure, but this economic engine helps drive growth and prosperity in our town.

The Edmonds Chamber of Commerce was chartered in 1907 and is a voluntary membership organization serving over 400 organizations with thousands of employees in several neighborhoods.